Lakeridge planning for new hospital
By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express
As Lakeridge Health maps out the next 25 years of health care in Durham, a new hospital is potentially in the cards.
During a recent presentation to regional councillors, Lakeridge officials outlined where the healthcare network is heading over the next two-and-a-half decades, and some of the work that is being done now.
Lakeridge is currently developing a master plan and plans for a new comprehensive acute care hospital.
Oshawa Ward 5 regional councillor Brian Nicholson, when discussing the potential location for the hospital, believes General Motors is looking to dispose of its current headquarters building.
To him, this would be an ideal site for a trauma centre or acute service centre.
Lakeridge president and CEO Matthew Anderson said the location of the new hospital will be determined in the spring, and will certainly look into that location.
According to Anderson, the provincially-directed Scarborough and Durham West Expert Panel recommends the creation of a regional system of care by integrating hospitals’ acute services for the region.
In regards to the master plan, Anderson said the intension is to get it submitted in the spring, in particular he said the organization hopes to have it finalized by the end of April, with the Local Health Integration Network’s endorsement by the end of May.
He said the Master planning process begins with evidence based planning which will create a roadmap as to how the master plan will develop.
Anderson said the master plan will use the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care planning and project framework released in the fall of 2017.
The master plan, according to Anderson, will identify acute health care service needs around the region for the next 25 years or longer.
The ultimate goal of the master plan is to be patient focused, community informed, and reflective of Durham’s growing and diverse populations, according to Anderson.
Anderson said Lakeridge Health hopes connect communities around Durham, as well as providing care that is closer to home.
The organization hopes to improve its services, patient experience, and expand upon information sharing by streamlining health records across care providers.
Senior director of capital planning and development Mark Murphy told the committee Lakeridge requires the region’s assistance with some ongoing projects.
Upgrades to Oshawa’s interventional radiology program is one such project.
According to Murphy, the upgrades will cost a total of $8.312 million, and they are asking the region to help by providing $623,400.
Another significant project includes the newly-established Ajax-Pickering mental health unit, which will cost Lakeridge $2.5 million.
They are seeking $187,500 from the region to assist with these costs.
Murphy said the mental health unit will add 22 new beds to Lakeridge Health’s system.
The organization also needs two new CT scanners at the Port Perry and Ajax-Pickering hospitals, which will cost $2.18 million and $1.8 million respectively.
Other projects include a new backup generator to the Bowmanville location, and improvements to the Whitby hospital’s primary chiller.
“We need to ensure great quality care everyday as we build and plan for the future,” said Murphy.
One issue Nicholson also wanted addressed is the lack of an advanced trauma centre in Durham Region.
“Our more serious cases are stabilized and then sent to Toronto, which may not be the best course of action for the patient,” he noted. He wanted to know if it was part of the master plan review.
“When we were undertaking our master planning exercise, we looked at new services and new requirements for a region of the size of Durham. And certainly looking at trauma is something we’re seriously considering,” explained Murphy.
In the end, regional chair John Henry presented a motion that the delegation be referred back to staff.